An honors student faces 15 years in jail.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: A 17-year-old honors student from Virginia pleaded guilty in court on Thursday to charges of conspiring to help Islamic State militants, the first time the United States has prosecuted a minor as an adult in such a case, the Associated Press reported Thursday.
Ali Shukri Amin, from Alexandria, Virginia, pleaded guilty Thursday in a federal court to providing material support to ISIS and faces up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced Aug. 28.
The 17-year-old was accused of helping another Virginia resident, Reza Niknejad, 18, who officials believe went on to join ISIS, travel to Syria, a law enforcement source said in March. The teen was also accused of passing messages between ISIS contacts, according to CNN.
All Amin had to say as he appeared before the judge was, “Guilty sir,” and, “No sir,” when asked if he is innocent in any way to the charges he is facing.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Dana Boente told a press conference that the sheer scale of the charges led to prosecution of Amin as an adult.
“It’s something we take very, very seriously, the age of someone…but at the end of the day, it’s a matter of public safety,” Boente said.
Federal authorities said the case is a chilling reminder of the Islamic State’s pervasive online presence and ability to woo American youths, according to the Washington Post.
Boente went on to state that that the Islamic State’s social media use is “unprecedented” and that federal authorities were investing significant resources into bringing to justice those who use the Internet to provide real help to terrorists.
Barely three weeks ago the FBI deployed an intelligence analyst to the Bergen Arts Sciences Charter School in Hackensack, New Jersey, amidst suspicion students are being targeted for recruitment by the terror organization ISIS.
According to NJ.com, the senior intelligence analyst informed the students that ISIS is actively and “expertly” using social media to recruit students and young adults. All 56 FBI branches have cases involving the recruitment of young people by ISIS, the analyst told the assembled student body.